The precursor to the United States Constitution is the Articles of Confederation. In what year was this precursor ratified?

The precursor to the United States Constitution is the Articles of Confederation. In what year was this precursor ratified?

• A. 1776
• B. 1787
• C. 1781
• D. 1790

Answer: (C)

The key idea is recognizing that the United States’ first framework of government was the Articles of Confederation, and the crucial fact is when they were approved by all thirteen states. The Articles were drafted during the Revolutionary era, but their ratification required unanimous consent from every state. That complete, all-states agreement happened in 1781, marking the moment the Articles became the operating government framework. The other years point to different events: 1776 is the Declaration of Independence, 1787 is when the Constitutional Convention produced a new framework, and 1790 is after the new Constitution began to take effect. So, 1781 is the year the precursor was ratified.

The key idea is recognizing that the United States’ first framework of government was the Articles of Confederation, and the crucial fact is when they were approved by all thirteen states. The Articles were drafted during the Revolutionary era, but their ratification required unanimous consent from every state. That complete, all-states agreement happened in 1781, marking the moment the Articles became the operating government framework. The other years point to different events: 1776 is the Declaration of Independence, 1787 is when the Constitutional Convention produced a new framework, and 1790 is after the new Constitution began to take effect. So, 1781 is the year the precursor was ratified.